Snaring update from Scotland and Northern Ireland

Our staff in Scotland and Northern Ireland have had an exceptionally good week.

North of the border, our campaigns have focused for quite some time on a ban on snaring. Together with Advocates for Animals, we put a petition to the Scottish Parliament almost two years ago and this week, the Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham MSP was called before the Committee to answer questions.

You can watch her performance on the Holyrood TV service. Sadly her answers were less than convincing, and in the face of some determined questioning, she failed to explain the Scottish Government’s reasons for not pursuing a ban. Our campaign continues.

Over in Northern Ireland, we have been delighted by some ComRes polling results which show massive – over 80% – support amongst Members of the NI Assembly for a ban on snares. The Ulster Unionist Party said that “unnecessary suffering must be prevented” following the second stage of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill at Stormont.

The snaring campaign in Scotland and Northern Ireland will continue apace. Perhaps one of these countries will lead the rest of the UK by grasping the opportunity for an enormous step forward for animal welfare. We hope so.